Electric switch



Dec. 20, 1955 w. E. BROWN ELECTRIC SWITCH 24 J/ f? a Filed Oct. l5, 1952INVENTOR. NIU. IAM f. BBUHN Hfs Arron/vins United States Patent OELECTRIC SWITCH Wiiliam E. Brown, Anderson, Ind., assigner to GeneralMotors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of DelawareApplication October 15, 1952, Serial No. 314,930 6 Claims. (Cl.200--61.78)

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches and moreparticularly to switches of the plunger type adapted to be operated bythe closure of a door. Switches of this type generally embody a housingor body having a chamber which houses the movable contact and one end ofa stationary contact or a terminal which is adapted for engagement withthe movable contact in the normal position of the switch.

An object of the present invention is to provide for a plunger typeswitch with a stationary contact of novel form.

Another object ot the invention is the provision of an efficient switchmechanism, parts of which are simple and inexpensive and capable ofbeing assembled together entirely by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a body and a Contactmember which are so constructed as to materially facilitate assembly ofthe contact member with the body in a correct and rigid manner and toprovide contact member which may be economically produced from sheetmetal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detachable one-piecesheet metal contact member which is so constructed so as to provide abase-portion to close one end of the chamber of the housing, to providea Contact portion engageable with a movable contact within the chamberof the housing, to provide a receptacle outside the chamber for thereception of a terminal; and to provide flexible portions cooperatingwith openings and abutinents provided by the housing tor retaining thecontact and housing in assembled relation.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side view of a switch constructed in accordance with thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is a top view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the switch on line 4--4of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an insulator embodied in the switch structure.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the element of the switch.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the switch housing.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan View of the switch housing.

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the opened positionof the switch.

Referring vto the drawings, designates a switch assembly which isadapted for assembiy in a support 2l for operation by a closure member22. The switch assembly 28 comprises a body or housing 23 of moldedinsulating material or plastic. As viewed in Fig. 3 the stationaryContact right end 24 of the body is circular in cross section, and itsleft end 25 is substantially oblong or rectangular in cross section, seeFig. 8. The housing has arcuate end walls 26 and fiat side walls 27.With this formation the right end portion 24 overhangs the left endportion 25 of the body to provide flanges or abutments 28, the purposeof which will be described hereinafter.

Referring to Fig. 9 the right end portion 24 of the body is formed witha transverse slot 30 to form spaced guide surfaces 31 and a ledge 32.The enlarged end 24 has space openings extending completely through theflanges 28 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The body 23 is formed with a cavityor chamber 34 extending from the ledge 32 and terminating short of theother end 25 of the body to provide an end wall 35 provided with anopening 36. The cavity consists of a cylindrical wall 37 interrupted bya lateral groove 38. The end Wall is formed with a pocket 39 which is areduced extension of the groove so as to provide a shoulder 40.

The cavity 34 receives an operating member or plunger of insulatingmaterial or plastic and includes a stem 46 and a head 47 carrying amovable contact 48. The stem 46 is slidable into and out of an annularbearing Flange 49 of a plate 50 which is attached to the body byriveting over the iiange 49 as at 51 against the inner surface of theend wall to hold the plate 50, a fastening member 52, and the body 23 inassembled relation.

The fastening member 52 comprises a U-shaped member having a yoke 53formed with an opening having diametrically opposite recesses to receivelugs 54 extending from the end wall 35 so as to prevent the fasteningmember from turning relative to the body. The side edges of the arms 55of the member 52 are formed with teeth 56 which are adapted tc bite intoa metal support to provide a ground connection for the switch.

The plunger 45 is assembled within the body 23 by inserting same at themouth of the chamber or cavity 34 with the stem 46 passing through thebearing flange 49. The contact 48 has a sliding t with the cylindricalwall portion of the chamber or cavity 34 to guide the plunger 46 instraight line axial movements with respect to the body 23. The contact48 is capable of engaging riveted over end 51 of the ange 49 to limitthe outward movement of the plunger and also to complete a circuitthrough the switch. The plunger 45 carrying the contact 48 is projectedto the left as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5 by an operating spring 59disposed between an insulating plate 60 and the contact 48. The plate 60rests on the ledge 32 to insulate the contact member 65 from the springso as to prevent current passing through the spring. The plate 60 hascut outs 61 diametrically opposed and dimensioned to be received withinthe transverse slot 30 one of the notches receives a lug 62 formed onthe ledge 32 while the other will straddle a resilient contact arm 71 ofa stationary contact member 65 shown in Fig. 7.

The stationary contact member 65 consists of the base portion 66 havinga spherical portion or dimple 67. The base 66 has integral side arms 68provided with integral spring lingers 69 which are bent outwardly fromthe normal plane of the arms 68 as shown in Fig. 7. The base 66 is alsoprovided with. resilient end arms 70 and 71. The arm 70 is bent backover the base as illustrated to form a receptacle for the reception of aspade terminal 72. The extreme end of the arm is flared outwardly at 73to facilitate insertion of the spade terminal 72 into the receptacle.The space between the base and the arm is less than the thickness of thespade terminal and the tension of the arm is such as to cause it toforce the spade terminal against the base so that a good electricalconnection is had between the members.

Arm 71 is bent at an acute angle relative to the base 66 so that it willflex outwardly when engaged by the movable contact 48. The arm 71 isformed with a contact portion 74 engageable with the movable contact 48when the plunger 45 is in its normal position as shown in Fig. 5. Theextreme end 75 of the arm 71, when the contact 65 is assembled with thebody 23 extends into the pocket 39. When the switch is in its normalposition the movable contact 48 carried by the plunger causes outwardflexing of the free end of the arm which effects good electrical contactengagement between the contact portion 74 and the contact 48, andprovides a wiping action therebetween to keep the contact surfaces freeof corrosion.

It will be understood that the contact member 65 can be inserted axiallyfrom the bottom or enlarged end 24 when the arms 68 are aligned withrespective openings 33. As the contact member is moved toward thehousing or body 23 the fingers 69 engage walls 80 of the openingscausing the lingers to be bent inwardly against their resistance whilethey are within the confines of the openings. When the edges of thengers pass the inner face of the abutments the fingers spring outwardlyand overlie the abntments to lock the contact member in non-retractiblesupported position.

As shown in Fig. 4 it is preferred to chamfer the inner Walls of theopenings, as at 81, to facilitate the insertion of the arms 68, this isnot essential as the angular disposition and resilience of the arm maybe such that they can be forced easily through the openings.

One of the advantages of the present construction of the body and theother switch parts described, is that the plunger 45, spring 59, plate60 and the stationary contact 65 can be assembled with the body withoutthe use of screws, bolts or the like. The stationary contact member 65,can be detached as required by simply flexing the resilient ngers 69inwardly by a suitable tool until they are free of the anges andapplying force to the base the contact member can be removed from thebody.

It will be clear without detailed explanation that the spring 59 willexert a force on the plunger 45 to hold the contact in engagement withthe flange 49 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. When the plunger 45 is forcedinwardly against the force of the spring 59 the contact engagementbetween the contact and contact portion will be interrupted, as shown inFig. 10 and the contact portion 74 in this position cannot touch theflange 49 due to the fact the free end 75 engages the shoulder 40 tolimit the' inward movement of the arm.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be under- Astood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. In an electric switch having a non-conducting body having a chamberextending longitudinally thereof and opening at one end of the body;exterior side flanges adjacent the open end of the chamber carried bythe body, each of said anges having an opening; and a one piecedetachable conducting means for closing said open end of said chamber,said means including a base for closing the chamber and having a exiblecontact extending into the chamber and having a pair of spaced arms,said arms comprising liexible tangs cut into the arms on the diagonalthereof, said arms being forcibly inserted in the respective openings topermit the tangs to return to the normal state and overlie the anges foriixedly holding the conducting means to the body, and for preventingaccidental removal of the conducting means from the body.

2. In an electric switch having a one-piece molded insulating bodyhaving a chamber formed therein and opening to one end thereof, saidbody having diametrically opposite side exterior flanges formed adjacentthe opened yend of the chamber, each ange having an aperturetherethrough; an actuator movable in said chamber; a movable contactcontrolled by the actuator; and a detachable onepiece conducting membercarried by the body, said contact member having a base for closing theopen end of the chamber, a contact portion engageable with the movablecontact in the normal position of the actuator and having spaced arms,each arm being severed at a plurality of places and bent in oppositedirections from the plane of their respective arms to provide lockingtangs to overlie the anges, said tangs being yieldably urged toward eachother when forced through their respective openings until the tangs passthrough the openings whereby the tangs return to their normal state,said tangs cooperating with the anges to prevent accidental removal ofmember from the body.

3. In an electric switch, the assembly comprising a onepiece body ofinsulating material having a chamber extending from one end terminatingshort of the other end to provide an end wall having an aperturetherein, said one end having diametrically opposite side flange providedwith through openings therein; a plunger having a shank extendingthrough said aperture; a movable contact controlled by the plunger; adetachable unitary contact member includes a base for closing one end ofthe chamber, an integrally connected receptacle for a spade terminal, anintegrally connected contact portion engageable with the movable contactin its normal position, and a pair of arms, each arm having a cut-outportion bent out of the plane thereof to provide a locking tang, saidarms being forcibly inserted in the respective openings with the tangscooperating with the flanges for ixedly holding the contact member tothe body.

4. in an electric switch, the assembly comprising, a non-conducting bodyhaving a chamber extending longitudinally thereof and a pair of spacedopenings, said openings positioned at opposite sides of the chamber,said body having a lateral abutment adjacent each opening; a detachableconducting member including a base for closing one end of the chamber, aterminal receiving receptacle on the side of the base; a contact portionon the other side of the base and extending into said chamber and a pairof arms formed integrally on said other side of said base, said armshaving flexible cut out portions and being forcibly insertable into saidopenings so that the iiexible portions thereof will engage the abutmentsfor iixedly holding the conducting member to the body.

5. in an electric switch, the assembly comprising a one-piecenon-conducting body having a chamber extending from one end andterminating short of the other end to provide an end wall provided withan aperture, said body being enlarged at said one end to providediametrically opposite side abutments provided with through openings; aplunger reciprocally movable through said aperture; a movable contactlocated within the chamber and controlled by the plunger upon movementthereof; and a detachable contact member including a base for closingsaid one end of the chamber, a terminal receiving receptacle carried onone side of the base, a contact portion carried by the base on the otherside thereof and engageable with the movable contact in its normalposition, and arms also on said other side, said arms having cut-outliexible portions, said arms forcibly inserted in said openings so thatthe flexed portion will engage the abutments for fixedly holding theconducting member to the body.

6. As an article of manufacture, a detachable closure for a switchhousing, said closure comprising a onepiece spring metal member having abase portion folded upon itself in one direction to provide a springclip adapted to receive a terminal and having a contact arm extendingfrom one end of the base and bent in the opposite direction from thebase to engage a movable contact within the housing; and an earextending from each side edge of the base and bent in said oppositedirection, said ears adapted to pass into respective openings providedby the housing, the material of each ear being severed at a plurality ofplaces and bent from the plane of their respective ears to providelocking tangs, said tangs being yieldably urged toward each other whenforced through the respective openings and when the tangs pass throughthe opening the tangs return to their normal state and overlie abutmentsadjacent the opening to detachably hold the closure to the housing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS AppletonJan. 22, 1929 Batcheller Ian. 4, 1944 Crumley Apr. l5, 1952 HerterickJuly 21, 1953

